Bible Passage: Romans 4:1-25 Background Passages: Galatians 3; 2 Peter 3 Memory Verse: Romans 4:5 Objectives:
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Question: How can a man who is a sinner become righteous before God?
According to Paul, the first truth which we must understand and accept is that all men have sinned. A man must realize that he is sick before he will go to a doctor for medicine. In the same way a man must know that he is sick with sin before he will seek God's way of becoming righteous.
In Romans 1-3 Paul has clearly shown that God's wrath is on all men because all have sinned. Gentiles and non-Christians are condemned because they have disobeyed what they know of God through creation and their consciences. Jews and religious people are condemned because they have disobeyed God's laws which they have been taught. Not one is righteous before God. All are guilty.
The second truth which we must accept is that God has provided the way by which all men can be made righteous. His way of salvation is the same for all--through Jesus Christ. The condition for receiving God's righteousness is the same for all--by faith in Jesus Christ.
I. RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH ALONE (Romans 4:1-12)
The religious people of Paul's day, the Jews, had a hard time understanding and accepting this truth that righteousness comes by faith only. They had been raised to believe that being born a Jew, being circumcised according to God's command, and following the laws given by God would make them righteous and acceptable to God.
A. Not by Good Works (4:1-8)
1. Abraham (4:1-5)
For the Jews, Abraham was one of their greatest men because he was the father of their entire nation. Everyone recognized him as a man greatly blessed and honored by God. If anyone could be acceptable to God because of his good life, Abraham would have qualified.
Question: According to Paul, on what basis did God accept Abraham? (4:3)
God accepted Abraham not because of the good he did, but because he believed God. God considered Abraham righteous because of his faith in Him (4:4, 5)
2. David (4:6-8)
Paul also used David as an example of one who was declared righteous by God on the basis of faith.
Question: What did God do with David's sin? (4:6-8)
Remember, his sins were adultery and murder, both of which deserved death according to the law. God would not have accepted any good works as penance from David for his sin. But He gave David forgiveness because David repented and trusted in God's mercy.
B. Not by Religious Rites (4:9-12)
Then Paul thought of another question which the Jews had in their minds. Their question was, "What was the relationship between being justified by faith and the rite of circumcision?"
For a Jew, circumcision was the outward and visible sign of God's covenant with Abraham. It set them apart as a special people belonging to God. Therefore, if Abraham was justified by faith, then did this mean that this principle of justification by faith is applicable ONLY to Abraham and his descendants who have received the rite of circumcision?
Paul's answer is no. Righteousness by faith in God is for EVERYONE, not just for the Jews.
Question: How did Paul prove that this principle of righteousness by faith is for everyone? When did God accept Abraham and make His covenant with Him of which circumcision was the symbol? (4:9-12)
The fact that circumcision was given to Abraham AFTER he had faith in God shows that faith is the important thing. He was not given righteousness because he was circumcised. The rite of circumcision was a sign of the righteousness which he had already received by faith (4:11).
C. Not by Obeying the Law (4:13-15)
Paul has already shown that righteousness is not received as payment for obeying the law. Now he points out that this was true in Abraham's experience. Abraham lived 430 years before the law was given by Moses (Galatians 3:17, 18). Therefore, he could not have been justified by obeying the law which he did not even know.
But Paul's main point here is that if righteousness had come by obedience to the law, then the promise given to Abraham would have been made void. You cannot promise to give a gift to someone and then tell him later that he has to earn it. If you would do this, it would mean that the promise was a lie.
God who made the promise to Abraham could not lie. The promise that Abraham and his descendants would inherit the earth was to be received by faith in God. It was not to be earned by obeying the law.
Question: How does this principle of righteousness being given in response to faith alone apply to those who belong to a church? Why does faithfulness in church activities not give us righteousness before God? What church rites do some people tend to trust in for their salvation? What must be present before these rites are meaningful? (4:11) Why does righteousness before God not come through obeying the rules of our church? Or by trying to obey the Ten Commandments?
The blessing of being born into a Christian home and being raised in a Christian church should lead us to faith in Christ. But these gifts will not give us salvation. Every person must come to the place of personal trust in Jesus Christ as his Savior.
II. RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL RESULT IN OUR INHERITING THE WORLD (Romans 4:13-18)
God made Abraham righteous because Abraham believed God's promise concerning himself and his descendants.
Question: What was this promise? (4:13)
The Jews though that his promise "that he would be heir of the world" meant that one day THEY would rule over the earth under the leadership of the Messiah Whom God would send. They thought this promise was limited to them because they were the blood descendants of Abraham. But Paul makes it clear that this promise is to ALL of Abraham's spiritual descendants who believe God as Abraham did (4:16, 17).
God's promise to Abraham was that the world would be blessed through his offspring. We know now that God was referring to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16). The ones who will inherit the earth are those who receive God's salvation through Christ. God has planned that they will live forever with Him on the new earth where there will be only righteousness (2 Peter 3:11-13). Therefore, the gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ is in order that we might live forever with God who is righteous.
III. RIGHTEOUSNESS INVOLVES PERSEVERANCE IN FAITH (Romans 4:18-25)
Paul finishes this chapter by showing the steadfastness of Abraham's faith when facing obstacles. Abraham's faith in God was not the kind which demanded an immediate fulfillment of the promise made.
Question: When the answer did not come after a few years, what happened to his faith? (4:18-20)
Notice that Abraham was a practical man. He knew that he was too old to be a father and Sarah was too old to conceive. But instead of growing weaker in his faith as the years went by, he became stronger. As he grew in his knowledge of God, he became more convinced that God could and would do what He had promised (4:21).
Question: Why was this example of Abraham written in the Bible? (4:23-25)
God wants us to know through the life of Abraham that this is the way He will deal with us. He will give us righteousness if we will believe in His promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.
We also need to persevere in faith as Abraham did. It is those who keep on following Christ who will grow in holiness as God has promised. It takes time for Christian character to develop. But our confidence is that if we keep trusting Jesus to make us like Himself, He will do it (2 Corinthians 3:18).
According to Paul, the first truth which we must understand and accept is that all men have sinned. A man must realize that he is sick before he will go to a doctor for medicine. In the same way a man must know that he is sick with sin before he will seek God's way of becoming righteous.
In Romans 1-3 Paul has clearly shown that God's wrath is on all men because all have sinned. Gentiles and non-Christians are condemned because they have disobeyed what they know of God through creation and their consciences. Jews and religious people are condemned because they have disobeyed God's laws which they have been taught. Not one is righteous before God. All are guilty.
The second truth which we must accept is that God has provided the way by which all men can be made righteous. His way of salvation is the same for all--through Jesus Christ. The condition for receiving God's righteousness is the same for all--by faith in Jesus Christ.
I. RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH ALONE (Romans 4:1-12)
The religious people of Paul's day, the Jews, had a hard time understanding and accepting this truth that righteousness comes by faith only. They had been raised to believe that being born a Jew, being circumcised according to God's command, and following the laws given by God would make them righteous and acceptable to God.
A. Not by Good Works (4:1-8)
1. Abraham (4:1-5)
For the Jews, Abraham was one of their greatest men because he was the father of their entire nation. Everyone recognized him as a man greatly blessed and honored by God. If anyone could be acceptable to God because of his good life, Abraham would have qualified.
Question: According to Paul, on what basis did God accept Abraham? (4:3)
God accepted Abraham not because of the good he did, but because he believed God. God considered Abraham righteous because of his faith in Him (4:4, 5)
2. David (4:6-8)
Paul also used David as an example of one who was declared righteous by God on the basis of faith.
Question: What did God do with David's sin? (4:6-8)
Remember, his sins were adultery and murder, both of which deserved death according to the law. God would not have accepted any good works as penance from David for his sin. But He gave David forgiveness because David repented and trusted in God's mercy.
B. Not by Religious Rites (4:9-12)
Then Paul thought of another question which the Jews had in their minds. Their question was, "What was the relationship between being justified by faith and the rite of circumcision?"
For a Jew, circumcision was the outward and visible sign of God's covenant with Abraham. It set them apart as a special people belonging to God. Therefore, if Abraham was justified by faith, then did this mean that this principle of justification by faith is applicable ONLY to Abraham and his descendants who have received the rite of circumcision?
Paul's answer is no. Righteousness by faith in God is for EVERYONE, not just for the Jews.
Question: How did Paul prove that this principle of righteousness by faith is for everyone? When did God accept Abraham and make His covenant with Him of which circumcision was the symbol? (4:9-12)
The fact that circumcision was given to Abraham AFTER he had faith in God shows that faith is the important thing. He was not given righteousness because he was circumcised. The rite of circumcision was a sign of the righteousness which he had already received by faith (4:11).
C. Not by Obeying the Law (4:13-15)
Paul has already shown that righteousness is not received as payment for obeying the law. Now he points out that this was true in Abraham's experience. Abraham lived 430 years before the law was given by Moses (Galatians 3:17, 18). Therefore, he could not have been justified by obeying the law which he did not even know.
But Paul's main point here is that if righteousness had come by obedience to the law, then the promise given to Abraham would have been made void. You cannot promise to give a gift to someone and then tell him later that he has to earn it. If you would do this, it would mean that the promise was a lie.
God who made the promise to Abraham could not lie. The promise that Abraham and his descendants would inherit the earth was to be received by faith in God. It was not to be earned by obeying the law.
Question: How does this principle of righteousness being given in response to faith alone apply to those who belong to a church? Why does faithfulness in church activities not give us righteousness before God? What church rites do some people tend to trust in for their salvation? What must be present before these rites are meaningful? (4:11) Why does righteousness before God not come through obeying the rules of our church? Or by trying to obey the Ten Commandments?
The blessing of being born into a Christian home and being raised in a Christian church should lead us to faith in Christ. But these gifts will not give us salvation. Every person must come to the place of personal trust in Jesus Christ as his Savior.
II. RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL RESULT IN OUR INHERITING THE WORLD (Romans 4:13-18)
God made Abraham righteous because Abraham believed God's promise concerning himself and his descendants.
Question: What was this promise? (4:13)
The Jews though that his promise "that he would be heir of the world" meant that one day THEY would rule over the earth under the leadership of the Messiah Whom God would send. They thought this promise was limited to them because they were the blood descendants of Abraham. But Paul makes it clear that this promise is to ALL of Abraham's spiritual descendants who believe God as Abraham did (4:16, 17).
God's promise to Abraham was that the world would be blessed through his offspring. We know now that God was referring to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16). The ones who will inherit the earth are those who receive God's salvation through Christ. God has planned that they will live forever with Him on the new earth where there will be only righteousness (2 Peter 3:11-13). Therefore, the gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ is in order that we might live forever with God who is righteous.
III. RIGHTEOUSNESS INVOLVES PERSEVERANCE IN FAITH (Romans 4:18-25)
Paul finishes this chapter by showing the steadfastness of Abraham's faith when facing obstacles. Abraham's faith in God was not the kind which demanded an immediate fulfillment of the promise made.
Question: When the answer did not come after a few years, what happened to his faith? (4:18-20)
Notice that Abraham was a practical man. He knew that he was too old to be a father and Sarah was too old to conceive. But instead of growing weaker in his faith as the years went by, he became stronger. As he grew in his knowledge of God, he became more convinced that God could and would do what He had promised (4:21).
Question: Why was this example of Abraham written in the Bible? (4:23-25)
God wants us to know through the life of Abraham that this is the way He will deal with us. He will give us righteousness if we will believe in His promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.
We also need to persevere in faith as Abraham did. It is those who keep on following Christ who will grow in holiness as God has promised. It takes time for Christian character to develop. But our confidence is that if we keep trusting Jesus to make us like Himself, He will do it (2 Corinthians 3:18).
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MEDITATION
Righteousness is a gift from God given to all who will trust in Jesus Christ. The purpose is that we might live forever with God who is righteous.
Righteousness is a gift from God given to all who will trust in Jesus Christ. The purpose is that we might live forever with God who is righteous.
- Do we realize that we need to become righteous before God?
- Do we realize why righteousness must be received as a gift from God?
- Are we following the example of Abraham by persevering in our faith in Jesus Christ, so that we might receive the promise of inheriting the earth with all who are righteous?
Source:
Foundations of Faith (Romans 1-7)
PCEP Adult Bible Studies 2
Foundations of Faith (Romans 1-7)
PCEP Adult Bible Studies 2